249.31

SEC. 249.31. JAPANTOWN SPECIAL USE DISTRICT. A Special Use District entitled "Japantown Special Use District," the boundaries of which are shown on Sectional Map No. SU02 of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco is hereby established for the purposes set forth below. (a) Purposes. In order to maintain the cultural and historic integrity and neighborhood character of Japantown, the Japantown Special Use District is established to: (1) Preserve and develop Japantown as a viable neighborhood by revitalizing its commercial, recreational, cultural, and spiritual identity as a local, regional, statewide, national, and international resource; (2) Enhance the distinctive image and unique character of Japantown to passing motorists, transit riders, and pedestrians through architectural design, streetscape enhancements, signage, and other elements of the built environment; (3) Strengthen and support Japantown's identity through recognition of its planning subdistricts including the Geary Boulevard corridor; Japantown Center; Post Street commercial core; Sutter Street community/cultural core; Buchanan Mall; Fillmore Street corridor; and surrounding residential districts; and (4) Encourage the representational expression of Japanese architectural design and aesthetic for commercial, cultural, and institutional uses. (b) Controls. The following provisions, in addition to all other applicable provisions of the Planning Code, shall apply within such Special Use District: (1) Conditional Use Authorization. The following activities for non-residential Uses, if not otherwise prohibited, shall require Conditional Use authorization from the Planning Commission pursuant to Section 303. (A) Use Size. The establishment of a new Use or any change in Use in excess of 4,000 gross square feet. (B) Merger. The merger of one or more existing Uses into a Use in excess of 2,500 gross square feet. (2) For any non-residential Use subject to Conditional Use authorization and for any activity that the Planning Commission considers under its discretionary review power, the Planning Commission shall make the following additional findings: (A) The Use is not incompatible with the cultural and historic integrity, neighborhood character, development pattern, and design aesthetic of the Special Use District; and (B) The Use supports one or more of the purposes for establishing the Japantown Special Use District. (Ord. 180-06, File No. 060266, App. 7/14/2006; amended by Ord. 235-14 , File No. 140844, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 13-26, File No. 251099, App. 2/13/2026, Eff. 3/16/2026) AMENDMENT HISTORY Reference amended in division (b)(1)(iii); Ord. 235-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. Introductory paragraph amended; former division (b)(1)(iii) deleted; remaining subdivisions in divisions (b)(1) and (b)(2) redesignated; division (b)(3) amended; Ord. 22- 15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Divisions (b)(1)-(b)(2)(B) amended; division (b)(3) deleted; Ord. 13-26, Eff. 3/16/2026. SEC. 249.32. LAGUNA, HAIGHT, BUCHANAN AND HERMANN STREETS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT. (a) Purpose. In order to facilitate the development of a mixed-use project including affordable and market-rate rental and ownership dwelling units, affordable senior dwelling units welcoming to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) senior community, community facilities, open space and retail services generally consistent with the policies of the Market and Octavia Area Plan, approved by the Board of Supervisors on October 24, 2007 (the "Area Plan"), there shall be the Laguna, Haight, Buchanan and. Hermann Streets Special Use District, applicable to the two RM-3 and NC-3 zoned blocks bounded by Laguna, Haight, Buchanan and Hermann Streets, consisting of Assessor's Blocks 857 and portions of Assessor's Block 870. The following provisions shall apply within the Special Use District: (b) Applicability. The provisions of this Special Use District shall only apply to projects which require conditional use authorization under Section 303 of this Code. In considering the appropriateness of conditional use authorization within the Special Use District, the Commission shall, in addition to the factors required by Section 303, consider the following factors: